iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display are now available with authorised Apple retailers across India.

The newÂ iPad AirÂ with 9.7-inch display is thinner and lighter than the previous generationÂ iPad, and packs in the latest hardware including the 64-bit Apple A7 processor.Â iPad mini with Retina displayÂ comes with a 7.9-inch display that packs in four-times as many pixels as its predecessors.

Coming to the pricing, the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display are available starting Rs. 35,900 and Rs. 28,900 respectively for the 16GB Wi-Fi models.

The 32GB, 64GB and 128GB iPad Air Wi-Fi only models are priced at Rs. 42,900, Rs. 49,900 and Rs. 56,900 respectively. The 16GB iPad Air with cellular connectivity is priced at Rs. 44,900. The 32GB, 64GB and 128GB models are priced at Rs. 51,900, Rs. 58,900 and Rs. 65,900 respectively.

Apple continues to sell the 16GB iPad mini without Retina display for Rs. 21,900 for the Wi-Fi only version. However, the cellular model gets a price bump from Rs. 29,900 to Rs. 30,900. The iPad 16GB iPad 2 will continue to sell for the same price of Rs. 28,900 and Rs. 37,900 for the Wi-Fi and cellular models respectively.

Apple Â launched two new versions of its iPads: The iPad Air, which replaces the fourth generation iPad, is a thinner and lighter tablet. The iPad mini also got an upgrade and now comes with a Retina Display screen.Â iPad Air and the new iPad mini with Retina Display, will come in Space Grey, White, Black, Silver colours.

Hereâ€™s a look at key specs of both the tablets:

The iPad Air: The iPad Air still has the 9.7-inch screen (diagonally) but is considerably thinner and lighter than the iPad 4. In fact, if Appleâ€™s ad is to be believed it is thinner than a pencil. The iPad Air weighs only one pound (which is 0.45 kg), and according to Apple, this is the lightest full-sized tablet in the market. The screen resolution is still the same at 264 pixels per inch.

Apple has also reduced the bezel on the side (itâ€™s apparently 43 percent narrower than the previous version), the iPad Air is only 7.5 mm thin, much less than the iPad 4 which was 9.4 mm in thickness.

The iPad Air also comes with the new A7 chip like the iPhone 5s, and Apple says that the tablet is eight times faster than before. The chip is 64-bit which allows for faster processing. The chip, while faster will only make a significant difference when developers make more 64-bit apps.

Like the iPhone 5s, the iPad Air has the M7 motion co-processor. Where graphics are concerned, the iPad Air is 72 times faster than the original iPad in GPU performance, according to Apple. Apple has kept the camera at 5 megapixels and a 1.2 megapixel front camera.

As far as Wi-Fi is concerned, the iPad Air has MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) wireless technology which uses multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver for better connectivity. However the iPad Air is still using the 802.11n standard, and not the latest Wi-Fi 802.11n ac version.

The iPad Air will begin shipping on 1 November. India is not on the list of countries where the iPad will roll out in the first phase. The iPad starts at $499 for 16 GB Wi-Fi only model and $629 for the Wi-Fi plus cellular model.

The iPad mini with Retina Display:Â A year after the launch of the iPad mini, Apple has upgraded the 7.9-inch tabletâ€™s screen to Retina Display quality. The screen resolution is nowÂ 2048Ã—1536 resolution at 326 pixels per inch (ppi) which is way better than the previous version which had a 163 ppi screen resolution.

The iPad mini with Retina Display also has the A7 chip, M7 co-processor. The camera is still the same at 5 megapixels but the mini now has an improved 1.2 megapixel camera for FaceTime on the front.Â The iPad Mini with Retina will sell for $399 for the 16GB WiFi model. Wi-Fi plus cellular connectivity is $529.Â iPad mini with Retina display goes on sale in November end.

The wait is over. The next version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 7, is now available.Â In Apple’s words this is “the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone.” Not only does the next iteration of the OS bring a completely overhauled user interface design, it also adds many missing features that were being offered by rival mobile platforms.

You’ll be able to get it free of charge if your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch supports it and get an almost new device, in terms of software.

So how do you go about updating it? What are the things that you should keep in mind before updating? We try to answer this in our post.

1. Does your device support iOS 7?
iOS 7 is supported by iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5; iPad 2, third and fourth-generation iPads, iPad mini; and the fifth-generation iPod touch. Also, certain features of iOS may not be available on all devices. For instance, the iPhone 4S doesn’t support features like AirDrop and live filters in the camera app. The iPad 3 also doesn’t support AirDrop.

2. Backing up your device
If you don’t regularly backup the data on your iPhone or iPad, now is a good time. You’d like your favourite apps and settings to transition to iOS 7 and for that you’ll need to take a backup.

You can take a backup your device in two ways, backing up to iCloud (Apple’s servers) or by backing up data to your Mac or PC via iTunes.

If you’ve enabled the option to backup data to iCloud, your device usually takes a backup automatically when it’s charging, locked and connected to a Wi-Fi network. To check when the last backup was performed (if it’s been enabled) go to theÂ SettingsÂ app and tap onÂ iCloud. You’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the menu where you’ll see aÂ Storage & BackupÂ option under which it’ll be mentioned whetherÂ iCloud BackupÂ is off or on. If it’s on, you’ll also see the date and time when the Last Backup was done. Note that your device must be connected to Wi-Fi.

If theÂ iCloud BackupÂ option was off then you’ll need to turn it on and take a backup. Mind you, iCloud offers only 5GB of free space. If you don’t want to shell out extra for cloud storage space and have a lot of data in your phone, then you’d be better off backing up via iTunes.

To backup to iCloud, first connect your iOS device to Wi-Fi. Now go to theÂ SettingsÂ app and tap oniCloud. You’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the menu where you’ll see theÂ Storage & Backupoption under which it’ll be mentioned that iCloud Backup is off. Tap on theÂ Storage & Backup, look for theÂ iCloud BackupÂ toggle and turn it on. Now tap onÂ Backup Now. The phone will start taking a backup, but it might take some time so you can leave your device on its own for a bit. We’d recommend deleting apps that you don’t use and pictures, and especially videos, that are not needed before backing up.

The second way to backup is by storing all your data on your PC or Mac via iTunes. To take a backup, connect the iOS device to a computer (PC/ Mac) through the USB cable. Make sure you computer is authorised with your iTunes account. If it isn’t you can simply do so by clicking on theStoreÂ menu and selecting ‘Authorize This Computer‘ and entering your Apple ID. You may need to unlock the device if you’ve set a passcode before iTunes can sync or take a backup.

The device will show up underÂ DevicesÂ in iTunes in the Sidebar on the left if you’re using an older version of iTunes. If you’re using iTunes 11, the device name would show up in the upper right hand corner.

You can either click on the device name and click onÂ Back Up NowÂ from the deviceÂ SummaryÂ page or simply right click/ control click on the device name and selectÂ Back Up.

If you want to ensure that the backup was successful or just want to check when the last backup was performed, you can go toÂ PreferencesÂ (throughÂ iTunesÂ menu on the Mac orÂ EditÂ menu on Windows) and click on theÂ DevicesÂ tab where your device backups and their time would be listed.

After ensuring that your device has been backed up, you can move on to installing iOS 7.

3. You can either install iOS 7 directly to your iOS device through an over-the-air Software Update via Wi-Fi or connect it to your computer and install the update through iTunes.

To upgrade over the air, go to theÂ SettingsÂ app, tap onÂ GeneralÂ and then onÂ Software Update. Wait for the update message to appear and tap onÂ Download and Install.

If you want to install the update through your PC or Mac instead, connect your device to the computer and wait for iTunes to open or fire it up manually. You’d typically get a software update prompt but if you don’t just go to the deviceÂ SummaryÂ page by clicking on the name of your iOS device, and click on the ‘Check for Update‘ button, and click onÂ Download and Update.

Your iPhone would restart and display an Apple logo with the progress bar while it updates and iTunes will also display the status of the installation.

4. After updating your iPhone to iOS 7, you’ll see a welcome screen, post that you’ll be prompted to enable Location Services, following which you will get a page where you can select whether you want toÂ set up your iPhone as a new phone,Â restore from an iCloud BackupÂ orÂ restore from an iTunes Backup. You’ll need to enter your iCloud credentials and stay connected to a Wi-Fi network if you select the iCloud backup option or ail need to connect your phone to your computer if you select the iTunes option. After a few more prompts asking for your iCloud and iTunes credentials and pages displaying terms of use, you’ll finally see your Home screen with a brand new OS.

Google Inc. has announced new versions of its Nexus 7 tablet computers. It has better features and a higher price tag.

The new models are available in the U.S. starting Tuesday through Google’s online Play store and the following retailers: Best Buy, Gamestop, Walmart, Staples, Office Max, Office Depot, Amazon, Home Shopping Network, Radio Shack, J&R and B&H Photo. A version with cellular capability is coming later with support for T-Mobile and Verizon.

Here’s a look at how the new Nexus 7 compares with last year’s model and other tablets with comparable screens.

Google Inc is bringing its Google Now technology to the iPhone, where it will compete head-on with Apple Inc’s Siri to serve as the primary service that smartphone users rely on to get everything from weather updates to traffic forecasts.

Google Now, which made its debut last year on mobile devices powered by Google’s Android operating system, will be available as a feature in theÂ new version of the Google Search appÂ for iPhones and iPads starting on Monday.

Personal assistant technology such as Apple’s Siri, Google Now and products created by various start-up companies aspire to play what could become a critical role on smartphones by helping users with daily chores such as looking up information on the Web, handling calendar appointments and managing travel plans.

Some analysts believe Apple’s Siri, which comes pre-loaded on iPhones and iPads, represents a growing threat to Google, the world’s No. 1 search engine. The information that Siri provides on common topics such as sports scores and nearby restaurants reduces the need to visit Google’s search engine, the analysts say.

Johanna Wright, Google’s vice president of Search and Assist for Mobile, described Google Now as the next phase in the evolution of search, in which answers are served up without a user needing to type in a query.

The technology taps into Google’s various online services, from Web search to personal Gmail email and Google Calendar entries, to deliver relevant information throughout the day in pop-up windows that Google refers to as “cards.” By accessing an email with a flight itinerary, for example, Google Now can automatically remind a traveler about an upcoming trip and suggest the best time to leave for the airport based on current traffic conditions.

Unlike the Android version of Google Now, in which users can swipe the phone’s homescreen to quickly access the pop-up cards, the version for Apple’s iOS will only display these cards when a user has opened the Google Search app.

The smartphone has emerged as a key battleground between Google and Apple as consumers increasingly access the Web with mobile devices instead of personal computers.

In September, Apple replaced the Google Maps app that once came pre-loaded on iPhones with a new maps app that Apple created in-house. The Apple maps service contained embarrassing errors, drawing fierce criticism from consumers and reviewers and forcing Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook to offer a public apology.

Apple’s iPad mini with Retina display could be launched in the second half of 2013, a report has said. DisplaySearch analyst Paul Semenza told CNET that the Retina iPad mini would have a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels.

That’s the same as the resolution of the full-size iPad with Retina display, which, at 9.7 inches, has a pixel density of 264 ppi. Mashable reports. The Retina iPad mini, at 7.9 inches, will result in a higher pixel density of 324 ppi, the report said.

Earlier, reports have suggested that the iPad mini’s Retina display could cost as much as 12 pounds more than the current display, increasing Apple’s cost per unit to approximately 200 dollars.

Samsung Electronics is beefing up its tablet range with a competitor to Apple’s iPad Mini that sports a pen for writing on the screen.

The Korean company announced on Sunday in Barcelona that the Galaxy Note 8.0 will have an 8-inch screen, putting it very close in size to the Apple’s tablet, which launched in November with a 7.9-inch screen. It’s not the first time Samsung has made a tablet that’s in the Mini’s size range: it’s very first iPad competitor had a 7-inch screen, and it still makes a tablet of that size, but without a pen.

Samsung will start selling the new tablet in the April to June period, at an as yet undetermined price. It made the announcement ahead of Mobile World Congress, the wireless industry’s annual trade show, which starts Monday in Barcelona, Spain.

The Note 8.0 fills a gap in Samsung’s line-up of pen-equipped devices between the Galaxy Note II smartphone, with its 5.5-inch screen, and the Galaxy Note 10.1, a full-size tablet. Samsung has made the pen, or more properly the stylus, one of the tools it uses to chip away at Apple’s dominance in both tablets and high-end smartphones. Apple doesn’t make any devices that work with styluses, preferring to optimize its interfaces for fingers, mice and touchpads.

On Samsung’s Note line, the pens can be used to write, highlight and draw. The screens also sense when the mouse hovers over the screen, providing an equivalent to the hovering mouse cursor on the PC. However, few third-party applications have been modified to take full advantage of the pens.

The small tablet war is heading to new territories now. From 7-inch tabs we have many devices with slightly larger displays. Apple has iPad Mini and eReader giants like Amazon and Barnes & Noble respectively tout Kindle Fire HD and Nook HD+ with displays larger than seven. Here we go ahead to compare these three products to let you pick up the best product for eReading, movie watching, web surfing and more.

Software & Apps
Appleâ€™s new small tablet runs on iOS 6. Compared to it both Kindle Fire HD and Nook HD+ are up with tailored Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Yes, that means you can run iTunes app store on iPad Mini and Play Store on Kindle Fire HD and Nook HD+ for different apps.

Needless to say, iPad wins when it comes to apps. Thanks to app store, iPad is the leader in number of apps. Amazon has designed too many specialized apps for multiple goals like eReading and similar purposes. B&N has somehow failed in it and so that Nook HD+ is the loser in availability of apps for diverse purposes.

Hardware & Power
The Apple mini tablet mounts a 7.9-in LED-backlit IPS LCD display with a resolution of 768 x 1024 pixels at a meager 162-ppi. The device drops the much-wanted Retina display and has lost a significant amount of sheen due to this. Kindle Fire HD is a bit larger with an 8.9-inch high definition display. It is an IPS TFT capacitive touchscreen that sports a better screen resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels at 254-ppi. The Nook HD+ is almost identical to Fire HD, but is rather smarter with a 9-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels at 256-ppi.

Going by innards, the Mini comes with 1GHz dual core Cortex-A9 CPU with Appleâ€™s new A5 chip inside. Its performance is boosted by a PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU and 512MB RAM. You can find 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants of this machine. Onboard the new Kindle Fire HD, Amazon has integrated a 1.5GHz Cortex-A9 CPU with TI OMAP 4470 chip and 1GB of RAM. The device has two â€“ 16GB and 32GB â€“ memory versions. Nook HD+ is powered by the same setup, but it comes in 16GB only.

Data & Connectivity
One important use of a small tablet is data surfing. That is why it must have a better and reliable connectivity options. Every tablet in question here comes with nice connectivity option. When it comes to iPad Mini, which comes in both cellular and Wi-Fi combo, you can see options like GPRS, EDGE, DC-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA and 4G LTE for Wi-Fi/4G model only and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 4.0 and USB 2.0. The device also shows off Appleâ€™s new 8-pin Lightning dock port.

Amazon sells Kindle Fire HD with Wi-Fi only. It doesnâ€™t have a cellular model. Yet, different from its precursor, the tablet touts Bluetooth with A2DP as well as USB 2.0. The Nook HD+ offers Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n, USB 2.0 and HDMI for connectivity. It is easy to access high speed internet on all these machines.

Price
It is an important factor that a user will check carefully before heading to buy a small tablet. To be honest, Kindle Fire HD is the best option here. The device comes for a price that a starts at $299. You will be getting a high performance and content-rich small tablet for a price that will not make you in trouble.

Nook HD+ starts at $269, but thing is that it is not a perfect tablet. Though having a quality HD display, it doesnâ€™t have much to offer you in content and apps. In case of iPad Mini, it is, for sure, unintelligently priced by Apple. It starts at a huge $329, which is indeed a big price for a device that misses Retina display and better processing elements.